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Section: Policy

Bill Would Give Credit for Military Training

U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) on Aug. 1 introduced bipartisan legislation that would provide more American military veterans with the chance to gain college credits for their previous military training. “Our servicemembers and their families deserve the opportunity to use their military training educational assistance for college credit,” Sen. Ernst said. “Allowing all veterans to […]

August 17, 2018

Repeal of Gainful Employment Rule Carries $5.3B Price Tag

The Trump administration’s proposal to repeal Obama-era requirements for recipients of federal student aid comes with a price tag of about $5.3 billion over a decade, a figure that is already giving critics ammunition as the Senate prepares to turn to Education Department appropriations this week. The administration’s proposed rulemaking would rescind 2014 regulations requiring […]

August 17, 2018

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Mrs. Pence Hosts Military Spouses

Today, Second Lady Karen Pence hosted a breakfast at the Vice President’s Residence for the Military Family Advisory Network (MFAN), a community of spouses from all military branches. Mrs. Pence met with 24 leaders within the organization to kick off their network’s fifth anniversary and annual MFAN Solutions Summit on Saturday, August 11 in Washington, […]

August 14, 2018

Veterans Groups Express Concerns over Borrower Defense Plan

VETERANS GROUPS CONCERNED WITH DEVOS ‘BORROWER DEFENSE’ PLAN: Groups representing veterans and military servicemembers say they’re alarmed by a Trump administration plan that would require defrauded students to default on their loans before they’re eligible to apply for debt relief. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos’ proposal to rewrite the Obama-era “borrower defense to repayment” regulations says […]

August 14, 2018

Trump’s Non-Military Troika Ruling VA

Last February, shortly after Peter O’Rourke became chief of staff for the Department of Veterans Affairs, he received an email from Bruce Moskowitz with his input on a new mental health initiative for the VA. “Received,” O’Rourke replied. “I will begin a project plan and develop a timeline for action.” O’Rourke treated the email as […]

August 14, 2018

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Army Suspends Discharges of Immigrant Recruits

The U.S. Army has stopped discharging immigrant recruits who enlisted seeking a path to citizenship — at least temporarily. A memo shared with The Associated Press on Wednesday and dated July 20 spells out orders to high-ranking Army officials to stop processing discharges of men and women who enlisted in the special immigrant program, effective […]

August 14, 2018

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How House Democrats’ Bill Will Affect Pell, Other Grants

The Aim Higher Act (AHA) expands eligibility for TEACH grant awards to include associate degree-level studies, capping the aggregate TEACH grant limit at that level at $8,000. TEACH grant eligibility is also extended to include early childhood education, adding it the current list of fields with teacher shortages that includes math, science, special education, and […]

August 10, 2018

Senators Offer Bill to Help Translate Military Training to College Credit

WASHINGTON- U.S. Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Chris Coons (D-Del.) today introduced bipartisan legislation to provide more veterans an opportunity to translate their military training into college credit, which is important to helping increase veteran graduation rates. The Military Learning for Credit Act allows all veterans to use veterans education assistance funds to cover portfolio assessments […]

August 7, 2018

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New V.A. Secretary Puts ‘Forever GI Bill’ into Effect

The Department of Veterans Affairs has begun implementing new provisions of the Harry W. Colmery Educational Assistance Act of 2017, better known as the “Forever GI Bill.” In one of his first actions since taking the oath of office Monday, new VA Secretary Robert Wilkie said the provisions to expand GI Bill coverage were put […]

August 7, 2018

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Spouse Jobs Help Coming in Defense Bill

When lawmakers this month struck a deal over the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), they all but gave the final OK to a series of proposals for military families that we’ve been talking about for a few months. Once the bill gets the president’s signature, the whole thing will be signed, sealed and delivered […]

August 3, 2018

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Flight School on the GI Bill? House Would Cap Tuition

The House of Representatives voted this week to cap the amount of tuition covered by the Post-9/11 GI Bill for veterans enrolled in public flight schools, among other changes. Currently, these programs at public schools are covered at the in-state tuition rate, the same as any other degree program at the schools. But advocates of […]

August 2, 2018

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House Approves Plan of Economic Opportunity Branch

WASHINGTON — House lawmakers on Monday advanced plans to create a new branch of Veterans Affairs operations focused on economic opportunity, a move that advocates say could better highlight employment and education programs at the department. Veterans advocates have pushed for the new economic opportunity administration in recent months amid concerns that the benefits administration […]

July 31, 2018

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New V.A. Chief Plans to Shake Up Staff

In one of his first acts as President Trump’s Veterans Affairs secretary, Robert Wilkie intends to reassign several high-ranking political appointees at the center of the agency’s ongoing morale crisis and staffing exodus, according to three people familiar with his plans. Wilkie, who will be sworn in Monday, wants to form his own leadership team, […]

July 31, 2018

Lawmakers Demand DOD Drop Limits on GI Bill Transfers

WASHINGTON — A bipartisan group of 83 House lawmakers are blasting a Defense Department plan to change rules on troops transferring their GI Bill benefits to dependents, calling it unfair and devastating for military morale. “Once a service member meets the requirements for transferring Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to an eligible family member, we must […]

July 31, 2018

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Prosecutors Urge Court-Martial for Midshipman in Drug Case

WASHINGTON — Military prosecutors recommended a court-martial on Wednesday for a U.S. Naval Academy midshipman who is accused of distributing drugs to fellow midshipmen after he acquired them on the dark web, where people search for drugs through secret web browsers and buy them using encrypted channels, code names and virtual currencies. Midshipman Zachery Williams […]

July 27, 2018

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Immigrant Target for Army Discharge Sues for Citizenship

LOS ANGELES — A U.S. Army specialist born in South Korea has sued to demand a response to her American citizenship application after the military moved to discharge her. Yea Ji Sea, a 29-year-old from Gardena, California, who has served four years and is assigned to the duty station at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, filed […]

July 24, 2018

Inspector General Probes DOD Schools Handling of Student Misconduct

The Defense Department’s school system’s policies for dealing with serious student misconduct including sexual assault and sexual harassment are under scrutiny by the DoD Inspector General, according to an announcement from the IG. The evaluation is required in the Senate Armed Services Committee’s report that accompanies their version of the fiscal 2019 National Defense Authorization […]

July 19, 2018

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Army Reverses Course on Discharging Immigrant

The U.S. Army has reversed its decision to discharge an immigrant reservist who sued when he was booted from the military last month after enlisting with a promised path to citizenship, according to court filings and his attorney. Brazilian immigrant Lucas Calixto filed a lawsuit against the Army in late June, saying the Defense Department […]

July 19, 2018